Frog and switch.



E. H. STEEDMAN.

FROG AND SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6,1914.

1, 1 20,557, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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UITED STATES PATEN FFICE.

EDWIN H. STEEDMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIG'NOR TO CURTIS & COMPANYMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WELLSTON, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

FROG AND SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed July 6, 1914. Serial No. 849,316.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN H. STEEDMAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Frogs and Switches, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to cast metal railway frogs and switches, andparticularly to the means used in such structures for connecting therunning rails to the cast metal body portion of the structure.

()ne object of my invention is to provide a railway track structure ofthe character described that comprises an integral base support at oneend of the body portion of same on which the base flanges of the runningrails rest, and means for causing the rails to be forced downwardly ontosaid base support, and also drawn laterally toward integral extensionson said body portion and held securely in position when the devices thatsecure the running rails in position are being tightened.

Another object is to provide a railway rack structure of the characterdescribed which comprises a foot guard that also serves as a nut lock toprevent turning of the nuts on the bolts which secure the running railsin position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a frog that has the maximumstrength in the cast body extensions that receive the running rails byreinforcing these extensions and connecting them to the body and to eachother by an integral cast base plate.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a frog of a designthat can be cheaply cast and finished and be of minimum length toproperly connect to the running rails at the heel end.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafterpointed out.

While I have herein illustrated my invention embodied in a cast metalrailway frog, I do not wish it to be understood that my invention islimited to such a device, for the invention is applicable to variousother kinds of railway track structures in which standard track railsare secured to a cast metal body portion.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top plan view of a railway frogconstructed in ac cordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevational view of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the toeend portion of the frog. Fig. is a perspective view partly in crosssection of said toe end portion; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectionalview taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the prefer-ed form of myinvention, A designates the body portion of a cast metal frog which isprovided at its toe end with integral body extensions B to which therunning rails C are bolted. Said body portion is also provided with anintegral base support D (see Fig. 4), on which the base flanges of therunning rails rest, said base support preferably extending across thespace between the body extensions B and being integrally connected tosaid exten sions so as to form a pocket at the toe end of the cast metalbody portion A whose side walls embrace the running rails and whosefloor or bottom supports the base flanges of the running rails.

Each running rail is connected to itscooperating extension B by means ofa separate set of bolts E instead of by long through bolts that passtransversely through both running rails and both body extensions, andmeans is provided for clamping each running rail downwardly onto thebase support D when the rail is drawn laterally toward the extension Bto which it is being connected. Each of the body extensions B isprovided with a vertically disposed web 1, through which the bolts Epass, and at the upper edge of said web is an inwardly projecting flangeor portion 2 that is adjacent to, but preferably spaced slightly awayfrom the outer side face of the head of its cooperating running rail,the underside of said flange 2 having a beveled surface 3 ofapproximately the same angle as the beveled base flange of the runningrail. hen the bolts E are tightened the running rail C will be drawnlaterally toward the body extenf sion B and also forced downwardly ontothe base support D, owing to the wedging action of the filler F againstthe inwardly projecting flange 2 on the body extension B. The filler Fis straight and of the same cros sectional shape throughout its entirelength and in practice I prefer to form said filler from a rolled bar.While I have herein illustrated the filler F as fitting snugly in thespace between the running rail and the inner side of the coiiperatingextension B, I do not wish it to be understood that it is essential tothe successful operation of my invention that the filler bear againstthe web of the rail, against the underside of the head of the rail andagainst the inner side ofthe web 1 of the extension B, so long as saidfiller bears against the beveled surface 3 on said extension and againstthe beveled surface t on the base flange of the rail. In other words, myinvention consists in a structure of the character described in whichthe filler F is so proportioned and designed that it will bear againstthe two surfaces 3 and 4 of the structure and thus prevent the rail frommoving either vertically or laterally after the bolts have beentightened, the act of tightening the bolts causing the rail to be forceddownwardly onto the base support D and also drawn laterally toward theextension B, due to the filler bearing against the two inclined surfaces3 and 4: on the extension B and on the base flange of the rail,respectively. In practice, the filler F is generally so proportionedthat it bears against only the two opposed surfaces 3 and i of thestructure, as this simplifies the manufacture of the structure andovercomes the necessity of accurately fitting all surfaces on the fillerto the parts between which the filler is arranged. In general outline,however, the filler conforms approximately to one side of the rail, andit is in this sense that the filler is defined in some of the claims asconforming to the shape of the side of the rail. The upper edge of thebody extension 13 is preferably inclined downwardly, as. shown in Figs.l and 5, so as to form a riser 5 that will guide the outer flange of aguttered or double flanged wheel upwardly onto the running surface ofthe bodyportion of the structure, and, in view of the fact that saidriser is formed integral with the body, the downward forces of a-passingwheel that act on the riser will be transmitted directly to the basesupport D withoutsubjecting the bolts E to cross strains. Thlsis alsotrue of the downward forces that are exerted on the head of the runningrail against the body extensions as the running rail rests snugly on thebase plate D. The result is that there is little tendency for the boltsE to work loose, as the downward forces exerted by a passing wheel aretransmitted directly to the integral base support D of the structurewithout subjecting the bolts to cross strains or shearin strains. At theopposite side ofthe vertical web of the running rail is a washer bar Gthat conforms approximately to the shape of one side of the rail andfits between the head and the base flange of the rail.

With a structure of the character described it is not necessary tomachine, bend or otherwise shape the ends of the running rails in orderto make them fit the cast metal bodyportion of the structure, andtherefore the running rails can be attached quickly and easily. Afterbeing attached the running rails and cast metal body portion arepractically rigid, owing to the fact that the rails rest upon anintegral base support on the body portion and are wedged tightly down onsame by the fillers F which are inning rails and the inwardly projectingflanges 2 on the upper edges of the body extensions B, said fillersbeing so designed that they transmit the downward forces exerted on therisersand on the heads of the rails directly to the integral basesupport D. of the structure.

A foot guard H is arranged betweenthe terposed between the base flangesof the runrunning rails, as shown in Fig. 3, and said 7 foot guard is sodesigned that it serves as a nut lock for the nuts on the inner ends ofthe bolts E. As shown in Fig. 5 the foot guard H is provided withpockets 6 thatreceive the nuts on the inner ends of the bolts E, theside walls of said pockets bearing against the edges of said nuts, andthus preventing them from turning. The foot guard herein shown consistsof a hollow casting of substantially wedge-shape in outline that isprovided with two pockets 6 which extend transversely across the entirewidth of same, but said foot guard could be formed in various other wayswithout departing from my broad idea, which consists From the foregoingit is obvious that the pocket formed by the body extensions and baseplate which receives the end of the running rail is of 'such a form thatit may be accurately and cheaply molded and cast, and of a shape that isreadily inspectable and cleaned in the foundry, therefore cheap andpractical as to manufacture, as well as of proper function in operation.The particular design of my frog gives great strength to the bodyextensions, as the integrally cast base plate connects each extension tothe other and ties them most strongly to the body, and also adds greatlyto the safety factor in my frog, for if one body extension were to breakoil", the base plate would keep the running rail on the broken side inplace and prevent accident to the train running over the frog, while,without the base plate, the breaking of a body extension would permitthe running rail to spread and wreclr the train without any warning.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A railway track structure of the character described. provided withintegral extensions to which the running rails are secured, an integralsupport on said body portion on which the base f anges of the runningrails rest, and fillers arranged between said extensions and runningrails'that clamp the rails to said support.

2. A railway track structure of the character described, comprising abody portion provided with integral extensions to which the runningrails are secured, a support for said rails integrally connected to saidbody portion and extensions, and fillers arranged between saidextensions and running rails that clamp the base flanges of said railsdownwardly on said support.

3. A railway track structure of the character described, comprising acast metal body portion provided at one end with a pocket for receivingthe running rails, the base flanges of said rails resting on the bottomof said pocket, fillers interposed between the side walls of said pocketand said rails for clamping the rails downwardly on the bottom of thepocket, and means for securing the rails to said side walls.

i. A railway track structure of the character described, comprising abody portion provided at one end with integral rail extensions and witha supporting base on which the base flanges of the running rails rest,means for securing the running rails to said extensions, and means forforcing the rails downwardly onto said support, said means consisting offillers having inclined faces that are interposed between saidextensions and said rails.

A railway track structure of the character described, comprising a bodyportion provided at one end with integral extensions, each of which isarranged on the outer side of the running rail with which it coa castmetal body portion provided at one end with a base support on which therunning rails rest and with integral extensions to which the runningails are bolted, portions on said extensions that lie adjacent the outersides of the heads of the rails, and a filler interposed between each ofsaid rails and its cooperating extension and designed in such a mannerthat it clamps the base flange of the rail tightly to said support.

7. A. railway track structure of the character described, comprising acast metal body portion provided at one end with an integral support onwhich the base flanges of the rails rest and having extensions to whichthe track rails are bolted, risers on said extensions, and devicesinterposed between said risers and the base flanges of the rails fortransmitting the downward forces on said risers directly to the baseflanges of the rails, thus operating to securely clamp said base flangesto said support.

8. A railway track structure of the character described, comprising acast metal body portion provided at one end with a support on which thebase flanges of the rails rest and also extensions that are arranged onthe outside of the rails, a separate set of fastening devices for eachrail which draws the rail laterally into engagement with its cooperatingextension, and independent means for clamping the rails downwardly onsaid support.

9. A railway track structure of the character described, comprising acast metal body portion provided at one end with a support on which thebase flanges of the rails rest and also extensions that are arranged onthe outside of the rails, a separate set of fastening devices for eachrail which draws the rail laterally into engagement with its cooperatingextension, inwardly projecting portions on said extensions that lieadjacent the side faces of the heads of the rails, and means interposedbetween the inwardly projecting portions of said extensions and the baseflanges of the rails for clamping said base flanges tightly to saidsupport when the fastening devices are being tightened.

10. In a railway track structure of the character described, a bodyportion provided at one end with a rail extension having an inwardlyprojecting portion that lies adja cent the side of the head of the rail,the underside of said inwardly projecting portion being beveled, asupport on said body portion on which the base flange of the rail rests,and a filler interposed between the rail and said rail extension andhaving inclined surfaces that bear on the top face of the base flange oithe rail and against the beveled surface on said rail extensions.

11. Ina railway track structure of the character described, a bodyportion provided at one end with a rail extension having an inwardlyprojecting portion that lies adjacent the side of the head of the rail,the underside of said inwardly projecting portion being beveled, asupport on said body portion on which the base flange of the rail rests,and a filler arranged between therail and said rail extension andconforming to the shape of the side of the rail and the underside of theinwardly projecting portion on said rail extension.

12. In a railway track structure of the character described, a bodyportion provided at one end with a rail extension having an inwardlyprojecting portion that lies adjacent the side of the head of the rail,the underside of said inwardly projecting portion being beveled, asupport on said body portion on which the base flange of the rail rests,a filler arranged between the rail and said rail extension andconforming to the shape of the side of the rail and the underside of theinwardly projecting portion ,on said rail extension, a reinforcing bararranged on the opposite side of the web of the rail, and bolts passingtransversely through said rail, extension, filler and reinforcing bar tosecure the rail in position.

13. In a railway track structure of the character described, convergingrails, a

member to which said rails are bolted, and a foot guard interposedloosely between said rails and actingas a nut lockto prevent Copies ofthis patent. may be obtained for rotation of the nuts on the bolts thatsecure the rails in position. i V

l-i. In a railway track structure of the character described, convergingrails, a member to which said rails are bolted, and a foot guard looselyarranged between the rails and provided with pockets for receiving thenuts on the bolts that secure the rails in position. I v

15. In a railway track structure of the character described, a castmetal body portion provided at one end with rail extensions that arearranged outside of the rails, abase support on which the rails rest,bolts that pass transversely through the webs of the rails and throughsaid extensions, and a foot guard loosely arranged between the rails andprovided with means for preventing the nuts on said bolts from turning.

16. In a railway track structure of the character described, a castmetal body portion provided at one end with an integral base support onwhich the rails rest and with integral extensions that have inwardlyprojecting flanges that lie adjacent the outer sides of the heads of therails, fillers interposed between the rails and said rail extensions anddesigned in such a manner that they clamp the base flanges of the railstightly on said support, bolts for drawing the rails laterally towardsaid rail extensions, and a foot guard arranged between the rails andprovided with means for preventing the nuts of said bolts from turning.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses, this nineteeth day of June, 1914.

EDWIN H. STEEDMAN.

Witnesses:

L. P. LESSARD, L. S. BUoKLEs,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

